Common nails tend to be thicker than box nails, making them more likely to splinter the wood they are driven into – especially in projects demanding finesse, such as trim work. Box nails, however, have a much smaller head size, reducing the chance of impacting the wood’s surface and causing damage.
Box nails are fashioned with a slightly offset head, in contrast to the smooth finish on the head of a common nail. This inclined orientation benefits woodworking, offering greater gripping power when nailed into hardwoods than that of its unobtrusive counterpart.
Conversely, box nails are fashioned from a pliable metal, constituting them easier to bend and contour. Such flexibility is especially beneficial when forging intricate schemes.
Choosing the right nail can be a challenge, so here’s a breakdown of what works best for certain projects. Delicate ventures, such as trimming, would likely benefit from box nails due to their narrow head. Nailing into hardwoods might also prove more successful with box nails as their offset head can afford better fastening. Furthermore, those looking to shape or bend nails could achieve this more easily with the softer metal structure of box nails.